Using Distance from Putative Source Woodlots to Predict Occurrence of Forest Birds in Putative Sinks

Abstract:  For some species of forest-breeding birds, productivity is much higher in large forest fragments than in small forest fragments and is higher than the level needed to replace individuals within the fragment (sources). Thus large forest fragments potentially provide excess individuals to neighboring small fragments where productivity is much lower and not adequate for replacement (sinks). We used occurrence data and distances between putative sources and sinks for four species of forest birds with this pattern of demography in large and small forest fragments to predict occupancy in small fragments. For the Ovenbird (  Seiurus aurocapilla ), Wood Thrush (  Hylocichla mustelina ), Veery ( Catharus fuscescens ), and Rose-breasted Grosbeak ( Pheucticus ludovicianus ), distance from large woodlots was a significant predictor of occurrence in small woodlots. Distance from large woodlots did not predict occupancy of Red-eyed Vireos (  Vireo olivaceus ), a species with no apparent difference in productivity in relation to fragment size. Neither vegetation features nor area of the small woodlots adequately explained patterns of occupancy for any species. These results suggest that maintenance of large, productive forest fragments benefit regional occurrence of forest-breeding birds by providing individuals to neighboring small woodlots. Limited reproduction in these small woodlots means that they may act as a reservoir for excess individuals in the case of catastrophic events that result in vacancies in source woodlots. Conservation and sound forest management of small forests should be directed particularly toward those closer to large regional forests.     

Use of recycled plastics in wood plastic composites – A review

The use of recycled and waste thermoplastics has been recently considered for producing wood plastic composites (WPCs). They have great potential for WPCs manufacturing according to results of some limited researches. This paper presents a detailed review about some essential properties of waste and recycled plastics, important for WPCs production, and of research published on the effect of recycled plastics on the physical and mechanical properties of WPCs.     

Biomass as the Renewable Energy Sources in Malaysia: An Overview

Past and current economic growths of Malaysia have been primarily energized by fossil fuels. Malaysia has very substantial potential for biomass energy utilization given its equatorial climate that is ideal for dense tropical forest growth and agricultural vegetation. There are five major sectors contributing wastes to biomass energy in Malaysia: forestry (wood products), rubber cultivation, cocoa cultivation, sugar cane cultivation and oil palm cultivation. Biomass in Malaysia contributes about 14% of the approximately 340 million barrel of oil equivalent (boe) of energy used every year. This paper provides an overview on the types of biomass being used, the research works on biomass conversion into energy and the present biomass energy projects in Malaysia.     

Production supervisor impacts on subordinates' safety outcomes: an investigation of leader-member exchange and safety communication

PROBLEM: Supervisors are increasingly important to the functioning of manufacturing operations, in large part due to their role as leaders. While supervisors' relations and communication with their subordinates are known to be important in influencing subordinates' behavior, little is known about how these two factors will impact subordinates' safety. This study investigated how much each factor contributes to safety-related outcomes for blue-collar production employees. METHOD: Production employees at five Pennsylvania wood manufacturers completed a survey during their work shift. Five hundred and ninety eight employees provided data on leader-member exchange (LMX), safety communication, and safety-related events. Archival data on OSHA recordables were also obtained from the producers' human resources database. RESULTS: Analyses found that the influence of LMX was greater than that of safety communication in predicting safety-related events. Neither LMX nor safety communication was significantly related to OSHA recordables. Results also demonstrated that employee job satisfaction and demographic variables such as gender and age have safety implications. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Results from this study further emphasize the importance of production supervisors and illustrate the potential role of leader-member exchange in enhancing workplace safety. Specifically, organizations should foster positive social exchange between their employees and supervisors and enhance the leadership qualities of supervisors to help reduce workplace injuries.     

Characteristics of nanoparticles emitted from burning of biomass fuels

The characteristics of the particles of the smoke that is emitted from the burning ofbiomass fuels were experimentally investigated using a laboratory-scale tube furnace and different types of biomass fuels： rubber wood, whole wood pellets and rice husks. Emitted amounts of particles, particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） and water-soluble organic carbon （WSOC） are discussed relative to the size of the emitted particles, ranging to as small as nano-size （〈70 nm）, and to the rate of heating rate during combustion, differential thermal analysis （DTA） and thermogravimetric analysis （TG） techniques were used to examine the effect of heating rate and biomass type on combustion behaviors relative to the characteristics of particle emissions. In the present study, more than 30% of the smoke particles from the burning ofbiomass fuel had a mass that fell within a range of 〈 100 nm. Particles smaller than 0.43 μm contributed greatly to the total levels of toxic PAHs and WSOC. The properties of these particles were influenced by the fuel component, the combustion conditions, and the particle size. Although TC--DTA results indicated that the heating rate in a range of 10-20℃did not show a significant effect on the combustion properties, there was a slight increase in the decomposition temperature as heating rate was increased. The nano-size particles had the smallest fraction of particle mass and particle-bound PAHs, but nonetheless these particles registered the largest fraction of particle-bound WSOC.     

合金钢组合辙叉轨下刚度对其安全性影响评估

为研究轨下刚度对合金钢组合辙叉安全性能的影响规律,并选取合适的刚度值,用以指导生产设计,以12号单开道岔合金钢组合辙叉为研究对象,建立辙叉整体模型及叉心模型。基于有限单元法,分析不同轨下刚度对列车动荷载作用下辙叉的受力及变形的影响规律,且对叉心燕尾部位进行疲劳检算。结果表明,随轨下刚度增加,列车对钢轨的冲击荷载逐渐增大,钢轨所受内部拉应力及竖向变形逐渐减小。经比较,刚度值选择50 kN/mm为宜,此时,叉心燕尾处应力及疲劳检算结果显示辙叉可以满足安全使用要求。综合各安全性指标选取合适的合金钢组合辙叉轨下刚度,有助于保证辙叉自身强度和行车安全性,以改善其使用性能,延长使用寿命。     

Signal variation and call preferences for whine frequency in the túngara frog, Physalaemus pustulosus

Properties of sexual signals can differ in the amount of within-male variability. In several species of anurans, females exert stabilizing or weakly directional preferences on less variable call properties, and highly directional preferences on more variable ones. Preferences of female túngara frogs, Physalaemus pustulosus, were examined for two call characteristics: a less variable spectral character, dominant frequency of the whine, and a more variable temporal character, inter-call interval. Eight phonotaxis experiments using synthetic calls were conducted with gravid females. Stimuli presented for both characters were based on the mean and standard deviation (SD) of those characters in the study population. For each character, we used four intervals of variation (1, 2, 3, and 4 SD) between stimuli in four different experiments. As has been found in some other anuran species, preference was stronger for the more variable temporal character, increasing in proportion to the difference between stimuli. Preference for the less variable spectral character was not significant until the difference between stimuli was substantial. The strength of female preference, estimated as latency to choose, the number of speakers visited, and the number of females showing phonotaxis, increased in proportion to the increase in the difference between stimuli. All these measures of strength of preference were greater in response to the more variable temporal character compared to responses to the less variable spectral character. Received: 20 September 2000 / Accepted: 7 October 2000     

蛙跳算法优化的地下水质评价的参数化组合算子模型

传统的参数化多元组合算子模型在进行对数变换后,采用最小二乘法求解模型参数。在满足构建的优化目标函数条件下,直接用基于群集智能的混合蛙跳算法对参数化组合算子模型中的参数进行优化,避免了传统解法过程中需要进行的对数变换,因而使参数求解变得简化。改进后的参数化组合算子模型被应用于地下水水质评价,其评价结果与用其他多种方法的评价结果基本一致。从而表明:混合蛙跳算法优化得出的地下水水质评价参数化组合算子模型为地下水水质评价提供了一种简便和实用的新方法。     

The effects of oil sands wetlands on wood frogs (Rana sylvatica)

Extraction of crude oil from oil sand produces solid (sand) and liquid (water with suspended fine particles) tailings materials, called oil sands process-affected materials (OSPM). These waste materials are stored on the mine site due to a “zero discharge” policy and must be reclaimed when operations end. The liquid tailings materials are known to contain naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and have high pH and salinity. One method of reclamation is the “wet landscape” approach, which involves using oil sands tailings materials to form wetlands that would mimic natural wetland ecological function. This study investigated the effects of wetlands formed with oil sands tailings materials on the survival and growth of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) larvae. In spring 2007, in-situ caging studies were completed in 14 wetlands that were of four different classes; young or old, reference or reclaimed. Tadpole survival was different between types of wetlands, with young tailings-affected wetlands (≤7 years old) having 41.5%, 62.6%, and 54.7% higher tadpole mortality than old tailings-affected (>7 years old), young reference, and old reference wetlands, respectively. Since old wetlands created from OSPM showed effects on tadpoles similar to those of reference wetlands, which had markedly lower toxicity than young tailings-affected wetlands, we provide evidence that wetlands, at least 7 years old, can sustain amphibian life.     

Full scale amendment of a contaminated wood impregnation site with iron water treatment residues

Iron water treatment residues are a free by-product with high concentration of iron oxides Iron water treatment residues has a large potential for arsenic sorption Soils are highly contaminated by arsenic at wood preservation sites Iron water treatment residues were added to hot spots contaminated with arsenic The addition led to significant decrease in leaching of arsenic from the contaminated soil Iron water treatment residues (Fe-WTR) are a free by-product of the treatment of drinking water with high concentration of iron oxides and potential for arsenic sorption. This paper aims at applying Fe-WTR to a contaminated site, measuring the reduction in contaminant leaching, and discussing the design of delivery and mixing strategy for soil stabilization at field scale and present a cost-effective method of soil mixing by common contractor machinery. Soil contaminated by As, Cr, and Cu at an abandoned wood impregnation site was amended with 0.22% (dw) Fe-WTR. To evaluate the full scale amendment a 100 m² test site and a control site (without amendment) were monitored for 14 months. Also soil analysis of Fe to evaluate the degree of soil and Fe-WTR mixing was done. Stabilization with Fe-WTR had a significant effect on leachable contaminants, reducing pore water As by 93%, Cu by 91% and Cr by 95% in the upper samplers. Dosage and mixing of Fe-WTR in the soil proved to be difficult in the deeper part of the field, and pore water concentrations of arsenic was generally higher. Despite water logged conditions no increase in dissolved iron or arsenic was observed in the amended soil. Our field scale amendment of contaminated soil was overall successful in decreasing leaching of As, Cr and Cu. With minor improvements in the mixing and delivery strategy, this stabilization method is suggested for use in cases, where leaching of Cu, Cr and As constitutes a risk for groundwater and freshwater.